13-year-old driver crashes vehicle in Sycamore

Man, 33, charged with endangering the life of a child

James R. Colpen, of the 800 block of Kimberly Drive, was the front-seat passenger of a vehicle operated by his 13-year-old relative with a 5-year-old improperly secured in the back seat, Sycamore police detective Sgt. Rod Swartzendruber said.

SYCAMORE – A 33-year-old DeKalb man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly allowing a 13-year-old to drive a vehicle along DeKalb Avenue in Sycamore, police said.

James R. Colpen, of the 800 block of Kimberly Drive, was the front-seat passenger of a vehicle operated by his 13-year-old relative, with a 5-year-old improperly secured in the back seat, Sycamore police detective Sgt. Rod Swartzendruber said.

Around 11:30 a.m., the 13-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle when she crossed Electric Park Drive, jumping the curb and hitting a parked car at Chuck's Auto Center at 1625 DeKalb Ave., Swartzendruber said.

Colpen then left the two children at the scene and drove off toward DeKalb, Swartzendruber said. The vehicle was spotted by a DeKalb County sheriff's deputy.

The 5-year-old was transported to Kishwaukee Community Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.
Colpen was charged with obstructing justice, endangering the life of a child and several traffic violations including allowing an unauthorized person to drive a vehicle and failure to secure a child in a child safety seat.